Hormonal
GLP-1 receptor agonist utilization for obesity has increased significantly and disproportionately among women compared to men, with obesity emerging as a key predictor of use specifically in female patients.
If you are a woman with obesity, you are significantly more likely to be prescribed a GLP-1RA than a man with similar characteristics, particularly after 2021. This utilization gap is driven by stronger associations between obesity and prescription in women. Men should be aware that they may face lower prescription rates and should proactively discuss weight management options with their providers.
The proportion of users with obesity increased significantly (5.3% to 9.2%, P = 0.024), nearly doubling among female users (4.9% to 10.6%). The association with obesity strengthened over time (OR = 1.85 to 5.59), especially among women (OR: 6.43 vs 2.04 in men).
Why this rating
Large, nationally representative dataset (MEPS) with robust statistical controls, though cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
Source
Beyond glycemic control: Sex differences shaping glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist utilization in the United States
Samuel Chijioke Ofili et al. · Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy · 2026
DOI 10.18553/jmcp.2026.32.2.166
More from this paper
- Depression is uniquely and significantly associated with increased GLP-1RA utilization in women, suggesting a complex interplay between mental health comorbidities and medication access.Good
- In patients with Type 2 Diabetes, GLP-1RA use is strongly associated with prior use of insulin and multiple oral antidiabetic agents, indicating their role as intensification therapies for poorly controlled diabetes.Good
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